3 Mental Models for Getting Sh*t Done
In the end, this is what matters the most.
Has this ever happened: you made an epic plan to pull off a grand task but ultimately failed because you didn’t act?
You made the plan, you allocated the time, and you had everything cleared and figured out. Yet, you failed. Why? Because you didn’t act on time.
In the paper, Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done, Larry Bossidy & Ram Charan writes:
“People think of execution as the tactical side of business […] Execution is not just tactics—it is a discipline and a system.”
Most of us know what to do and want to outsource the doing process entirely. We overwhelm ourselves by figuring everything out beforehand, before taking the first step, before dipping our toes in the waters.
This very thing fails us most of the time. We plan, we procrastinate but never get to the good and the most exciting task—actually doing it. Let’s solve this problem together today.
What is a mental model and why do we need its help?
Mental models are the basics on which our thinking is structured. You can see it as the cells for our actions. All we do stems from our thinking and that in turn is dependent on the knowledge and information we have.
Good mental models simplify the decision-making process manyfold. Not only this, it makes you boil down complex things to their mere basics.
This might sound a bit confusing. But fret not yet. It’s simpler than you think. I bet you have already encountered mental models in one form or the other.
There are mental models for absolutely everything. From judgement to acquiring a new skill, you name it. That’s because of fact that every complex concept can be broken down into simpler and digestible chunks.
It’s ubiquitous. But that doesn’t mean the quality is not compromised sometimes. That’s why you first need to filter out the residue before feeding it to your brain. I hope this letter acts like a sieve for this purpose.
Today we are going to look at 3 Mental Models which aid in getting shit done and not just sitting back and planning everything out just to regret it later.
1. Limit your options
It may sound weird but this is the easiest way to get started. Whether you want to try out something new or are confused about what to do next in an ongoing chore, start by limiting the options at your disposal.
There’s a famous law which supports this claim: Hick’s Law.
According to this law, the time it takes to make a decision increases with the number and complexity of choices.
You have already encountered it without even knowing it when you go shopping at the mall or visit a cool website to buy something. It’s quite a famous thing in UI/UX design.
Instead of bombarding you with options, a good salesperson will limit the number of choices. You are more likely to buy something this way.
Similarly, if you indulge your brain in possibilities and options too much, it will have a hard time doing or acting upon something.
Limit your choices and get started ASAP.
2. Two-minute Rule
A simple and straightforward trick to feel good about yourself more often.
We feel good when we accomplish something. When small accomplishments come in loads, we feel great. This simple mental model helps you accomplish small feats in quantity.
Through the lens of this law, you have to filter every work through the sieve “can it be done in under two minutes?”
if the answer is yes, do it immediately. It may not be the most important task at hand, but still, DO IT.
It can be as small as making your bed or cleaning your study/working area. These small acts give you the doorway to escape the inertia of rest.
You do something when you’re already doing something and not slouching on the sofa and daydreaming.
3. the decision paradox
This comes from my favourite book of all time: The Almanack of Naval Ravikant.
This scenario is true most of the time. We procrastinate or fake actions in the name of planning only to do the real work later. That later either never comes or comes just before the deadline.
We compromise on quality because we are fighting against time. We are filled with regret why we didn’t start it earlier. Me too.
This mental model helps you summarise hundreds of such scenarios and conveys the gist in two sentences.
Trust me, it’s as simple as it looks, and still works.
I hope you enjoyed this edition of Be Curious. Share the post with your friends and family :) See you next week!